LaLiga - Matchday 30 - 06/04/2017 21:30h

Late Soler strike earns Valencia CF victory against Celta Vigo (3-2)

April, 06 2017 -

Valencia CF struck late on for a 3-2 win against Celta Vigo at Mestalla, in midweek action on Matchday 30 of the LaLiga season. Carlos Soler got the 86th minute winner for the home side meaning VCF took all three points and moved up to twelfth in the table.

Opposition Celta had previously beaten Valencia CF in each of their three meetings in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey this season. They also went ahead early in the fourth encounter, as a Daniel Wass free kick was headed in by Gustavo Cabral on 16 minutes. Prior to that, VCF had shown a desire to attack –earning five corners in the opening 6 minutes.

Following the first goal of the game, goalkeeper Diego Alves was next called into action to save at the feet of Celta’s Iago Aspas, whilst Simone Zaza was unable to poke in a loose ball at the other end.

Zaza was involved in the Valencia CF equaliser, seven minutes from the halftime whistle. The Italian backheeled a pass to Joao Cancelo, who set up a perfect assist from the right hand side for Dani Parejo to make it 1-1. It was Parejo’s fifth goal of the 2016/17 season so far.

Another shot from Zaza –this time over the crossbar- concluded the first period of play.

As in the first half, Valencia CF came out of the blocks strong. Soler proved to be instrumental in the side upping the pace, and one of his crosses was headed towards goal by Fabian Orellana –unfortunately straight into the hands of stopper Sergio Alvarez. Cancelo joined in the attempts with a solo move, ending in him hitting the post with his shot.

With 25 minutes to go, coach Voro decided to make a change and brought on Toni Lato in place of Guilherme Siqueira. The VCF Academy product did not take long to make an impace, and just two minutes after coming on he served up an excellent pass for Munir to put Valencia CF 2-1 up.

Following a good save by Alvarez to keep out another Cancelo shot, Munir came close to a third goal. However, it would be Celta Vigo who scored next: Iago Aspas went down in the box, was awarded a penalty and beat Alves from the spot to get his side back level.

Valencia CF dug deep for the final ten minutes of play, and reaped the rewards when Soler provided his touch of class before the end. An astonishingly accurate pass from Enzo Peréz reached the young talent, who decided on a precise chip over the goalkeeper and into the net to earn the 3-2 victory for his side.

The team are now unbeaten in six games at home, with only one draw in that time. Mestalla is fast becoming the place to be in the closing stages of the 2016/17 season.

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Photographs by Lázaro de la Peña, re-use is not permitted.